Appearing with Health Minister Yakov Litzman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged on Wednesday Israelis to change their daily lives in order to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, announcing a series of decisions.
The most drastic decision restricts gatherings of more than 100 people, alongside a directive to self-quarantine if you have symptoms.
Netanyahu said that schools and universities would remain open for the time being, but will have to abide by various restrictions that would be announced as early as Thursday.
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Netanyahu, who played a video visualizing the impact of a sneeze on the surroundings, appealed to Israelis: "Please change your daily lives, avoid handshakes, make sure to wash your hands and maintain personal hygiene. Use a tissue when you sneeze."
Netanyahu said that Israel was in good shape relatively speaking, with only 82 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, in part because Israel made swift decisions right at the start.
"I have talked with health officials from around the world, who praised our response," he said. "We ask that people don't hold conferences and events if they don't have to," Netanyahu added.
"We call on employers to let more and more employers work from home," the Health Ministry's Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov said. He further said that "anyone who has fever or any symptoms should self-quarantine."
